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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
1st run through with new band?
1st run through with new band?
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SuperBee
3634 posts
Apr 22, 2016
3:46 PM
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Last night I attended band practice for the first time in nearly 2 years. I've known the members of this band for a while, even played on one of their gigs, and I've sat in with the guitarist a few times and jammed with him, had a run through with him and the bass player before also...
These guys keep reinventing their act...currently they've decided it's 50s/60s r&r...elvis, little Richard, fats domino, johnny cash, everlys, Ray Charles, chuck berry etc...but also they like Sinatra, Horace silver...
One of the problems with old people is that if they have set themselves up well, they go on touring holidays for months at a time....this keeps happening with these fellows...only the guitarist and I have to rely on the daily grind to earn our keep...so what has happened in the past has been they invite me to join the band and then the drummer goes to Italy for two months and the bass player heads off to China for a while and then the guitarist is working intensely through spring and then it's xmas and sometime in Autumn he has a new idea for a band and calls me up...
It could go that way again, but I guess I'll play. We're booked for another practice next week...but then the drummer is off for another tour...so who knows.
I like this drummer...he is a Londoner who played there in the 60s and supported SBW2 on one of the tours...63 or 64 I guess...I was born in 64 so I guess that makes Richard 70 years old at least.
The bass player actually knows a bit of harp and of course he knows scale degrees so he is teaching me how to play in this context. That's a real asset for me so I hope we do get to play more.
This is not much about solos. It's all about using the harp as an ensemble instrument to fill out the sound of the band. Not playing across what they're doing, or even playing fills. Lots of horn-like 'stabs'. Some riffing. Some of this stuff I've got, and I understand the concepts and have been thinking about it for a while but putting it into practice is challenging. Timing is crucial. Not a lot of notes, but the textures and attack make a big difference. Trying to use a tiny little harp to sub for a horn section...octave and partial chord splits feature. And there are a few minor songs where I get to play some melody but I'm thinking 3rd position and 5th position so that is a little challenging to become more fluent. But for instance, playing 'fever' in Am, I selected the G harp to get the lower octave, because it seemed better suited to the 'dark' mood. I think the 1 draw is A3 whereas the 2 draw of a D harp is A4. I think the only other choice I could use to get that note in a scale I could use would be a low F in 5th. The bass player questioned me after, 'what harp did you use there?', because he was aware that a harp played in second would be much brighter...
Anyway...the amateur harp player trying to make music to support a band. Discipline and check your ego at the door. Lots to learn and time to get my harps into good shape...mine are like the cobblers shoes...
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MindTheGap
1516 posts
Apr 22, 2016
11:08 PM
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Sounds good, if you can all be in one room at the same time! I have some retired people in my band and they seem busier than us workers.
Are they quieter than your previous band! :)
As you know by now, I like the supportive playing styles. As a listener, I really do think it adds something extra to songs.
During rehearsals sometimes I have to substitute on drums (rudimentary at this stage, but it's great practice). Listening to the ensemble, I really do think it sounds a bit bland without the harp chipping in. We play lots of harp-centred songs, where the harp has a bona fide part, and I love playing those. I also like soloing for my own benefit, but honestly I don't think it always adds much.
I think the harp makes a great support instrument.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 23, 2016 12:35 AM
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SuperBee
3636 posts
Apr 23, 2016
1:21 AM
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Yes, that's why I used a question mark in the title...I've been here a couple times with these guys...it seems rather easier for them to change their act than it is for me...rhr guitarist especially does plenty of gigs because he has a huge bag of songs...
They are considerably quieter than my first band, but so is a jet fighter. They're even a bit quieter than the blues band I fronted, which was limited by upright bass but had a HM drummer...I could 'almost' use a Princeton in that band. I think I'll get away with the Princeton with these chaps.
I like soloing if it's fluent but agree it's not always the best contribution the harp can make. Lots of people seem to think the harp is only for 'lead', but I'm happiest with a definite part to play.
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